法苑珠林 40.41

40.41

"The Chancellery: We reverently consider that the Perfectly Enlightened One, with great loving-kindness and great compassion, rescues and protects all living beings and serves as a bridge and ferry for the multitude of kinds. We have taken refuge in the Three Jewels and revitalized the sacred teachings, desiring that all the people within the four seas may together generate bodhi and jointly cultivate meritorious deeds, so that in the present existence down to future lifetimes they may forever create wholesome causes and together ascend to the wondrous fruit. Let thirty śramaṇas who thoroughly comprehend the characteristics of dharmas and are capable of preaching and guidance be invited, each accompanied by two attendants, together with one supernumerary official assigned to each. Let one hundred and twenty catties of frankincense and five horses be provided to each. Along divided routes they shall convey the śarīra to proceed to the aforementioned prefectures to erect pagodas. If it is a temple amidst rivers or plains, let the pagoda be erected at an existing mountain-and-water temple as before. Where there has traditionally been no temple in the mountains, establish the pagoda at a pure temple site within that prefecture. Let the relevant office produce a model and send it to that prefecture. Where monks are numerous, let there be three hundred and sixty; next, two hundred and forty; next, one hundred and twenty. If monks are few, let all existing monks assemble. On behalf of Us, the Empress, the Crown Prince Guang, all the princes, grandsons, and down through officials inside and outside the court, all the common people, and living beings in the unseen and visible realms, let each practice the Way for seven days and perform deśanā. On the day the practice of the Way begins, strike the finial pole. Regardless of whether from the same prefecture or another prefecture, allow anyone to make dāna; the money is limited to ten cash or less and must not exceed ten cash. The donated money shall be used to finance the construction of the pagodas. If it is deficient and insufficient to pay the corvée laborers, then regular treasury goods may be used. Let all monks and nuns across the prefectures throughout the realm host a vegetarian feast for the śarīra. The deadline is the hour of noon on the fifteenth day of the tenth month, when the relics shall simultaneously be deposited into the stone reliquary. From Area Commanders and Prefects on down to County Defenders on up, except for urgent military affairs, they shall suspend routine duties for seven days to exclusively inspect and oversee the practice of the Way and the striking of the finial pole, making every effort to fulfill complete sincerity and reverence and accord with Our intentions. Let the responsible authorities carry this out."